Beet-topping machine.



G. W. FRANKLIN.

BEET TOPPING?v MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19. 1911. 1,025,693, Patented May 7, 1912.

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G. W. FRANKLIN.

BEET TOPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE D JUNE 19, 1911. 1,025,693.

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WITNESSES ZNVEA/ITOR" V/fi v R 6. 11732111251! W MAW Patented May 7,1912.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE...

CHARLES W. FRANKLIN, OF LEIPSIG, OHIO.

BEET-TOPPING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. FRANK- LIN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Leipsic, in the county of Putnam and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Beet-ToppingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of agriculturalimplements known as beet-topping machines, and is designed especiallywith a view to providing an implement for cutting the tops from growingbeets or other similar vegetables and plants.

The essential objects of the invention are to improve certain featuresof machines of this type whereby'the operation of the machine is keptunder direct control of the op erator; the cut of the knives may begaged to respond, and adapt the knives, to irregularities in the heightof the succeeding beets, thus saving portions of the tops of the beetswhich would otherwise be wasted; and other objects and advantages willappear hereinafter.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements ofparts as hereinafter specified in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example,and a modification thereof, of the physical embodiment of my invention,constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for thepractical application of the principles.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an implement embodying the novel features ofthe invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isan enlarged detail of an eccentric knife gage, and Fig. 4 is a modifiedform of knife support, adapting the implement for use as a cottonchopper, or the like.

In general, the implement is somewhat similar to the standard sulkycultivator comprising the rectangular frame 1, the axle 2, and tractionwheels 3, and is adapted to be drawn by horse power attached to thetongue 4, a seat 5 being provided at the rear of the frame for theoperator.

The operating mechanism is actuated from the driving axle 2 by means ofthe large sprocket wheel 6, chain 7, small sprocket 8, and thetransverse countershaft 9, and this actuating mechanism is thrown intoand out of action by means of the clutch lever 10, which is pivoted at11 to the frame,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 19, 1911.

Serial No. 633,910.

and whose yoke 12 is engaged in the collar 13. It will of course beunderstood that the large sprocket 6 is loose on the aXle 2, and isrotated only when the teeth 14 of the clutch members are engaged, asshown in Fig. 1.

The operating mechanism which constitutes the beet-topping device issuspended on the countershaft 9 by means of the bracket 15 which isformed with tubular bearings or sleeves 16, incasing the shaft androta-table thereon. The driven shaft 17, of the topping mechanism isalso supported in bracket 15 by means of the sleeves or bearings 1S, andthe bracket 15 and supported shaft 17 are free to be moved verticallyupon the shaft 9 as a pivot. The rear or free end of the shaft 1'7 issuspended between the guide plates 19 formed as a part of the cross bar20, by means of the link 21, and collar 22, and the pivoted foot lever23, is utilized for raising, or permitting the lowering, of the shaft 17between its guide plates 19. Secured upon and rotatable with the shaft17 is a knife-carrying disk 24, upon which the cutters or knives 25 aresecured. These knives are formed with double edges, as 25' so that thebeet tops may be severed by the movement of the rotatable disk andknives in either direction, as provided for by means later described.The shaft 17 is operated from the counter shaft 9 by either of the twobevel pinions 26, 27, carried on the slidable sleeve 28, which isrotatable with the shaft 9. Either of these two pinions is adapted todrive the complementary pinion 29 on shaft 17, and thus rotate theshaft.

For providing a right-hand, or left hand action, of the cutting knives,the sleeve 28 and gears 26 and 27 may be moved by means of the shiftingspool 30 and lever arm 32, which latter is connected by draw rod 33 withthe rocker arm 34, provided with the turning handle 35. By turning thehandle 35 the bevel pinions are shifted so that one or the other is madeto mesh with the pinion 29 thus driving the shaft 17 in selected di- 1rection and rotating the knives 25 so that the beet tops are cut andthrown out in the proper direction with relation to the row of plants.

In connection with the cutting knives I employ a gaging mechanism, bymeans of which the height of the cut may be determined, as the rotatingknivessever the beet tops. The gaging shoes or drag 36. is suspendedfrom the sleeves of the bracket 15 by Patented May 7,1912.

means of brace rods 37, and the shoe is further supported by means ofthe bolts 38, 38

which are attached respectively to the shoe and to a crank or eccentricarm 39 rotatable in a block 40 loosely and nonrotatably supported on theshaft 17.v

The height of the shoe may be predetermined and adjusted by means of theturn buckle 41 and lock nut 42, and held in this permanent relationship.But a further adjustment of the parts is provided for by means of theeccentric or cranks 39. To this end I utilize the crank plate 43 whichis secured on the eccentric arm 39 and connected by draw rods 44 to asecond plate or arm 45 secured on the rock shaft 46. The rock shaft 46may be rocked by means of the draw bar 47 and the second rock shaft orpedal bar 48, the latter being journaled in the frame bars 49. Footpieces 50 are provided by means of which the operator as he sits in theseat 5, can continuously regulate the height of the shoe with relationto the rotating knives therebeneath.

In connection with the beet-topping mechanism, I also combine a roller51, which is located toward the front of the implement and supportedfrom the frame by the hanging rods 52. A rake 53 is-also attached bymeans of the yoke 54 to the rods or bars 52 of the roller 51.

Located between the rake and the cutting knives is a sweeper or brush55, which is suspended by hangers 56 from the bracket 15 andsupplemental bracket 57. This brush or sweeper is actuated from theshaft 17 by means of the sprocket wheel 58, chain 59 and the wheel 60located on the axle 61 of the brush.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a sled 36 to be substituted'for the shoe 36, and supported by means of the brace rods 37. This sledis to be used when it is desired to use the implement without ridingdown the beet or other vegetable tops.

In operation as the implement is propelled forwardly, the roller 51rides down the tops of the beets, and the following rake rakes theleaves and stalks in one direction. The rotating sweeper or brush thencleans the row and brushes the tops of the plant either to the right orthe left depending upon the travel of the implement, and the slidingplate or shoe 36 automatically rises or falls, lift-ing or lowering theknife disk and knives, as it encounters irregularities in the height ofthe beets. By this automatic movement of the knives they are adjusted tothe required height for each individual vegetable, and a uniform sliceor cut is made from each beet.

It will be understood that the operator at all times controls themovement of the cutting device by the movement of his feet upon the footpieces 50. The rotation of the cutting knives may be reversed, asdescribed, to cut and throw the beet tops to either side of the row.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination in an implement asdescribed of supporting wheels and a. frame, with a roller and a rakeconnected at the front of the frame, a transversely rotatable brush atthe rear of said rake, an adjustable supporting frame and cutting knivessupported on said adjustable frame.

2. The combination in an implement as described of supporting wheels anda frame, a roller, a rake, and a transversely rotatable brush, of anadjustably supported pivoted frame, and a rotatable knife supported andactuated in said frame.

3. The combination with a. frame, supporting wheels and axle, of aeo-untershaft actuated from the axle, a. frame pivoted on saidcountershaft and provided with a depending supporting plate, a shaftsupported in the pivot-ed frame and driven from the countershaft, arotary knife on said shaft, means for adjusting the height of said knifeand means for adjusting the ver tical position of the supporting platewith relation to said knife.

4. The combination with a frame. wheels and axle and a countershaftactuated therefrom, a frame pivoted on the countershaft and providedwith a depending supporting plate, a shaft supported in the pivotedframe and carrying a rotary knife, a bcaring sleeve supporting saidshaft and lever mechanism for suspending said sleeve. and eccentricmeans for adjusting the height of the supporting plate.

5. The combination in an implement as described, of a pivoted frame, adriven shaft and a rotatable knife. with a sliding support connected tosaid shaft. and ecceutrically operated means for adjusting the height ofsaid support relative to the knife.

6. The combination in an implement as described of a pivoted frame. adriven shaft and a rotatable knife, of a sliding shoe connected tosupport said shaft, eccentric means for adjusting the height of the shoewith relation to the knife, and means for adjusting the height of thepivoted frame.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. FRANKLIN.

Witnesses A. A. SLAYBAUGH, EMILY SLAYBAUGI-i.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

